Marionette
Rahzel stared at her pillow. The frills on the edges were prettily decorated with flowers. She would have been impressed with the craftsmanship on any other day. That day was different. She couldn't even appreciate the work that had been put into it.
The image of Viola was burned into her mind. No matter how she tried she couldn't escape it. The years had flown by since that day but the memory felt fresh. She curled into a small ball. Her rabbit was pulled closer to her chest.
Behind her, her companions made noises in their sleep. She didn't know whether to be grateful or angered. Their discomfort was a mild distraction from the haunting image. They offered no other form of comfort, however, and in the darkness their sounds weren't soothing.
She tried to cast her fears aside and failed. Viola wouldn't let her escape. It was almost as though she were the marionette, the lifeless doll, and he was her puppeteer. That thought didn't sit well with Rahzel at all. If anything, it brought her fears to the fore.
She kept her mouth closed. Alzeid and Baroqueheat were prone to 'sleeping' – a state which they feigned their rest. They could hear her and pursue her. They tended to follow her as they wished. Even in times when she wanted to be alone they would appear. Right now she wanted to be on her own but didn't risk leaving.
She curled into a tighter ball. Her hands gripped the pillow roughly. The fabric crumpled in her hands. She ignored the pull of the seams. She turned around to face the pillow and held her breath. Silently, she promised that day would come and she would see its warming light.
Author's Note: Short. Yes, it is. I wanted to go deeper into this issue. The whole episode with Viola made me think of her reaction more than anything else. Rahzel seemed distraught. I wanted to go into the possible lingering effects. I would have put this in the perspective of the Circus Master, but that would probably be beyond the scope of anything that I could handle. I hope that you enjoy what I've written. Thank you for giving my story a chance and sparing some of your time for my work. I apologise if you weren't satisfied.
Part of the Revival Collection.